French Open organisers made the big announcement on Tuesday that the tournament will be held from September 20-October 4 owing to the coronavirus crisis but it has now emerged that the players and apparently the men's and women's tour associations were all kept in the dark of this decision.
French Open's postponement means it is slated for just a week after US Open, if that tournament dates remain unchanged.
Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil called French Tennis Association's decision as "madness" and said there was no communication made about the same to the players and the ATP.
Clearly unhappy, he remarked, "we have ZERO say in this sport".
This is madness. Major announcement by Roland Garros changing the dates to one week after the US Open. No communication with the players or the ATP.. we have ZERO say in this sport. It's time. #UniteThePlayers https://t.co/e0xc7Lor0b — Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) March 17, 2020
Former world No.1 and Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka also expressed her confusion over the decision on social media as she quote tweeted the Roland Garros' tweet with "excusez moi???"
excusez moi??? https://t.co/kb5wi27dRc — NaomiOsaka????? (@naomiosaka) March 17, 2020
According to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, ATP's social media handle had tweeted about Roland Garros' postponement but that tweet could not be found later.
Also WTA has made no comment on the same on its social media handles.
ATP, understandably, deleted this tweet. The tours are going to have issues with this plan. pic.twitter.com/0n08qYjTa4 — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 17, 2020
Later Elina Svitolina also made a confused tweet to the announcement while Stan Wawrinka, in a conversation on Twitter, asked for one player who knew about the decision.
https://t.co/5HYhkyFtjQ pic.twitter.com/TjLFdq2eXQ— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) March 17, 2020
Find me 1 player who knew that decision — Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) March 17, 2020
MetroUK's tennis journalist George Bellshaw took to Twitter to tweet that a joint statement from ATP and WTA could be expected on Wednesday, presumably on the same matter.
Earlier, FFT president Bernard Giudicelli said, "We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this UNPRECEDENTED situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend. We are acting responsibly, and must work together in the fight to ensure everybody's health and safety."